Ride-hailing Firms Told To End 'disorderly Expansion'

Mainland regulators have summoned ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing and 10 other car platforms to demand they cease "disorderly expansion" and "vicious competition" tactics, the government said on Thursday.

China has in recent months tightened its scrutiny of its largest tech firms in sectors ranging from e-commerce to entertainment, launching antitrust probes and rolling out strict regulation.

The companies, including the ride-hailing arm of major services app Meituan, were told by regulators that the industry suffered from poor behaviour including recruiting unqualified drivers and "shifting the risks of operations onto drivers," according to a transport ministry statement.

The companies were ordered to investigate internal problems and "immediately rectify" poor behaviour, with regulators stressing that ride-hailing platforms must also reduce the cut they take from transactions and protect passengers' personal data.

China's app-based services have expanded into nearly every aspect of modern life in recent years, with companies in industries including shared bikes and food deliveries engaging in heated discount wars against rivals to gain market share.

The transport ministry on Thursday urged ride-hailing platforms to "maintain a fair competitive market environment" and promote the "healthy and sustainable development" of the industry. (AFP)